MMA and SCHOMOS questioned the use of “moderate” ICU bed occupancy for Phase 2 of the National Recovery Plan, as many general wards are repurposed into makeshift ICUs and field hospitals are set up for more ICU capacity.
Infectious disease expert Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman also highlights the severe impact of the epidemic on non-Covid patients, like delays in cancer surgery and heart disease treatment.
The World Bank’s internal estimate shows that “an open and comprehensive testing policy is positively associated both with containment and growth outcomes”.
Covid-19 cases dipped only 6.5% to an average 5,559 daily infections the week of June 13-19 from the previous week, while testing declined 10.9% to an average 80,165 people tested a day.
Anaesthesiologists and intensive care experts say there is no evidence supporting the use of a negative pressure ambulance, estimated to cost RM500,000-RM600,000, to ferry Covid-19 patients.